The Disunity

It was a privilege to be able to have the last breakfast with Fr Val this morning, just before he leaves to the Church of the Risen Christ tomorrow. We got the chance to discuss the many issues that have long been pondered inside me, one of them that has affected me greatly being the disunity of Christianity today. What happened to John 17 when Jesus prayed for his believers at the last supper;

"Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, so that they may be one as we are one...that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

And also in Acts 4:32 and 1 Corinthians 1:10;

"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had."

"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought."

Isn't it clear enough to see that we Christians have to be united in order for the very love of Christ to be witness in today's world? Sadly I'm afraid you have to agree with me that it hasn't been so. Its been over 500 years that Protestants and Catholics fight over theological doctrines, morals and each claiming to proclaim the truth. New protestant congregations are being established daily around the globe with an average of 5 new denominations emerging each day, adding on to the 250,000 denominations there already are, just because one disagrees with doctrines and teachings of another. Not even getting down to theological matters yet, some are already accepting gay marriages, contraception, abortion, cloning and many more of such (I'm in no position to judge, but I think God wouldn't have planned for this?). Obviously the Truth is getting more and more distorted and we all should be wondering where christianity is heading to today.

As a Catholic, I am deeply sadden to see so many non-Catholics misunderstanding the faith and worst still making false claims about it. And obviously most of us Catholics are not knowing our faith well enough to share its truth and splendor with others.

It is my deepest yearning that all of us christians can put away our pride and ego and come together one day to worship God under one single church, hence it is my greatest gratitute that I ask of you reader, Catholics and Protestants to join me in prayer... to pray for unity and continue seeking the truth and be open to the Holy Spirit that has been promised to guide us. Because each time we do, we seek Jesus who himself is the truth, the way and the life. And in doing so, we will eventually find the splendor in the truth.

May the good Lord mould, melt our hearts and motivate our minds always!

With peace and love.